Background:Climatechangeislikelytocausesignificantmodificationsinforests.Risingtothischallengemayrequireadaptationofforestmanagement,andthereforeshouldtriggerproactivemeasuresbyforestmanagers,butitisuncleartowhatextentthisisalreadyhappening.Methods:ThesurveycarriedoutinthisresearchassesseshowforeststakeholdersinBelgiumperceivetheroleoftheirforestmanagementinthecontextofclimatechangeandtheimpedimentsthatlimittheirabilitytoprepareandrespondtothesechanges.Results:Respondentsindicatedstrongawarenessofthechangingclimate,withmorethantwo-thirds(71%)expressingconcernabouttheimpactsofclimatechangeontheirforests.However,lessthanone-thirdoftherespondents(32%)reportedmodifyingtheirmanagementpracticesmotivatedbyclimatechange.Amongthemajorconstraintslimitingtheirclimaterelatedactions,lackofinformationwasconsideredthemostimportantformanagersofbothpublicandprivateforests.Conclusions:Knowledgetransferisanessentialconditionforresearchtoleadtoinnovation.Improvingthecommunicationanddemonstrationofpossiblesolutionsforclimatechangeadaptationisthereforelikelytobethemosteffectivestrategyforincreasingtheiradoption.
